Barcelona have confirmed that they will not fuel controversies or speculation about a possible return of Lionel Messi to Camp Nou, but the La Liga giants are planning a beautiful tribute for their all-time leading goalscorer.

Messi, who left Barcelona in 2021 to join Paris Saint-Germain, has since chased the American dream with Inter Miami, signing a contract extension through 2028. Despite the speculation of a potential playing return during the MLS offseason, Barcelona have made it clear that such a scenario is unlikely.

Barca’s Tribute Plans

Club president Joan Laporta reiterated that Messi will always remain in the collective memory of Barcelona fans, explaining plans for a potential exhibition or friendly match to celebrate the Argentine legend.

“The tribute should take place at a time when we can thank him for everything he’s done for Barca. A tribute with a full Camp Nou, with 105,000 Barca fans thanking Messi for everything he’s done for the club, could be a beautiful thing,” Laporta said.

The club is also considering immortalising Messi in statue form, potentially alongside other icons like Kubala, Johan Cruyff, and Ronaldinho.

Messi Reflects On Camp Nou

Messi recently visited the renovated Camp Nou, sharing a heartfelt post on social media:

“Last night I returned to a place I have missed with all my soul. A place where I was extraordinarily happy, where a thousand times you made me feel like the happiest person in the world. I hope one day I can come back, and not just to say goodbye as a player, as I never got to.”

While Messi and his wife Antonela plan a return to Barcelona at some stage, it is not expected that he will feature in a match wearing the iconic No.10 jersey again.

Sporting director Deco also weighed in on the speculation:

“I don’t think it’s possible because Leo is under contract and it was never even considered. Leo is always Leo, and he could still contribute something; he’s a great player, but it’s not something we’re going to talk about. The current situation is entirely speculative.”

Barcelona’s focus is clear: honour Messi’s legacy without fueling unrealistic expectations. For fans, it’s a chance to celebrate the player who defined an era at Camp Nou.

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Lionel Messi has dropped his early predictions for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and in classic Messi fashion, he kept it honest, humble, and a little surprising.

In a sit-down with MLS Espanyol, the Inter Miami superstar admitted that defending Argentina’s world title will be extremely difficult — so difficult that he didn’t even include the defending champions among his list of favourites.

Yes, you read that right.
Argentina didn’t make Messi’s own favourites list.

Messi’s World Cup Favourites

When asked who he believes are the strongest contenders for the next World Cup, Messi pointed to four teams:

• Spain

• France

• England

• Brazil

He also mentioned Germany as a strong contender, but made it clear that these four hold the edge in terms of quality, structure, and ambition.

“There are very strong teams, like Spain, France again, England, and Brazil, who haven’t been champions for a long time and want to be champions, plus Germany,” Messi said.

The most surprising part?
No mention of Argentina.
No mention of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.
No mention of other heavyweights like the Netherlands.

Why Messi Left Out Argentina

Messi doubled down on the difficulty of being the team everyone wants to beat.

“Everyone wanted to beat Argentina, and now that we’re the latest world champions, it has become even more challenging,” he explained. “It’s very tough, but we won’t stop competing, that’s for sure.”

This is peak Messi: humble, realistic, and laser-focused on performance rather than hype.

Will Messi Play In The 2026 World Cup?

The question fans never get tired of asking — and Messi never gets tired of answering carefully.

As Pulse Sports previously reported, Messi still has not fully decided whether he will play in the 2026 tournament. But this time, he admitted something encouraging:

He wants to play.

He may be undecided, but the desire is there — and that alone is enough to keep the football world buzzing.

Sports Market International Verdict

Messi’s prediction is grounded and strategic. Spain are rising, England are packed with young talent, France remain a powerhouse, and Brazil are hungry to reclaim their lost glory.

Whether or not Messi features in 2026, one thing is guaranteed:
The world will be watching.

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Messi Admits Müller Makes The MLS Cup Final “More Competitive”

Lionel Messi is gearing up for yet another career-defining moment—this time in the MLS Cup final—and he’s fully aware of the challenge ahead. The Inter Miami captain has openly admitted that Thomas Müller’s presence at Vancouver Whitecaps makes the showdown significantly tougher.

Inter Miami fell out early in last year’s playoffs despite a record-breaking season, but the Herons have bounced back, fighting their way to the championship match taking place Saturday, December 6th.

Now, with Vancouver strengthened by a world-class veteran like Müller, Messi isn’t taking anything for granted.

Messi Praises Müller’s Impact And Vancouver’s Rise

In a chat with MLS Espanyol, Messi spoke highly of his longtime German rival:

“First of all, it’s really great that Müller has come to play in the MLS… It’s also nice that this final is happening again and that we get to face each other once more.”

Messi emphasized that Vancouver have been strong all year, finishing among the top teams and competing deep into every tournament—mirroring Inter Miami’s own journey.

The Argentine added:

“We know very well that it will be a very, very difficult match. And Müller joining that team certainly makes them stronger… It will be a very special final.”

It’s the respect of two legends—one calm, tactical genius against another relentless goal machine.

Messi Has Been Miami’s Engine… Again

At 38, Messi has delivered vintage numbers:

• 29 goals

• 19 assists

• A ruthless playoff run

• A statement performance vs Atlanta United (2 goals, 1 assist)

He remains the heartbeat of Inter Miami’s attack, dictating play, scoring in bunches, and dragging his team to the last day of the season.

Müller’s Late Arrival, Big Impact

Thomas Müller signed for Vancouver in August 2025, but he wasted no time making his mark:

• 7 goals

• 3 assists

• In just 7 regular-season games

• Now leading Vancouver to their first MLS Cup final

He’s done Müller things—intelligent movement, clutch goals, flawless timing—exactly what made him a Bayern Munich icon.

The Rivalry: Müller Dominates Messi Historically

While Messi is viewed as the superior all-time talent, Müller has been a consistent thorn in his side:

• Müller has 7 wins vs Messi

• Scored 5 goals

• Provided 2 assists

• Messi has only 3 wins, scoring 2 goals with 1 assist

And Vancouver themselves have proven to be a serious obstacle for Inter Miami:

• Eliminated Miami from the CONCACAF Champions League (5–1 aggregate)

• Miami did win the most recent MLS encounter

With both clubs at full competitive strength, this final has all the makings of a classic.

A Final Packed With Storylines

This isn’t just Messi vs Müller.
It’s:

• A revenge chapter

• MLS’s biggest global showcase

• Vancouver chasing their first-ever title

• Inter Miami hunting redemption

• Two legends reigniting a rivalry on U.S. soil

And if Messi’s words are anything to go by, this final might be one of the most competitive MLS Cup matches in years.

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